Aston Villa vs Bournemouth: Stats reinforce Emery's decision to persist with Lucas Digne

 

Sunday marked two years since Unai Emery took the reins at Aston Villa, and by now just about everybody knows how the story has gone.  

 

The transformation he has overseen at the club has been truly remarkable, taking them from relegation concern to the Champions League, with almost everyone’s arrow pointing upwards. He took a squad that was badly underperforming and corrected its course, helping the likes of Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and John McGinn re-find their way in a flash. 

 

But it hasn’t been smooth sailing for every single player - a statement that Lucas Digne can attest to more than anyone.

 

 

Back in early 2023, he’d have been right to be concerned about his future at the club. Emery had used his first transfer window at Villa to sign Alex Moreno from Real Betis for £13.3m, a flying left-back with whom he was naturally very familiar with.  

 

Moreno cracked the first team quickly (thanks in part to Digne hurting his shoulder) and made 14 Premier League starts in that half season, seizing the role of first-choice left-back. His incredible speed added another dimension to an attack that otherwise lacked it; he also settled into life in B6 easily, with plenty of Hispanophones present in the squad for him to bond with.  

 

Only a major hamstring injury, which required surgery, knocked Moreno back off that perch. But during those months out, Digne stepped back in and stepped things up a gear, fighting his own corner and, at age 30, massively improving and rounding out his own game. The roles now were reversed. 

 

Moreno never bounced back from that injury, but in truth he was never given an extended chance of doing so, as Digne had made himself undroppable. 46 total appearances last season tells the story in very basic terms, while his eight goal contributions were pretty handy too - but there’s so much more to it than that. 

 

Digne has long been known as a strong crosser and avid attacker - his time at Everton, where he registered back-to-back seven-assist seasons, plus time at Roma, PSG and Barcelona painted that picture clearly. Under Emery at Villa, though, he’s become one of the best defensive full-backs in the Premier League, fine-tuning the mechanics of his game. 

 

"The arrival of the manager (Emery) took me to the next level," he said in September. "He has given me a lot of advice and has allowed me to evolve tactically, in terms of positioning. For example, he taught me how to better orientate my body in defensive phases." 

 

Only Youri Tielemans (15) has completed more tackles in the Premier League for Villa this season than Digne (14), while his 30 combined attempted tackles and interceptions makes him the busiest defender in the squad. He's made more clearances (8) than any full-back in the Champions League this season. 

 

 

He’s also emerged as a leading figure in the team, has a strong connection to the terraces at Villa Park and is one of the most vocal, passionate presences you’ll see. After every win, the Frenchman walks straight up to the social media team’s camera and screams "ANOTHER ONE!!!!" down the barrel, which has become a mini-tradition that fans celebrate. 

 

If there was any criticism to be levelled at him, it might be that the balance of his game had swung too far the other way, as while Digne’s defending improved tenfold, his trademark attacking output has dropped off a bit. This season, he ranks just ninth in the squad for shot-creating actions (9) and no consistent starter has attempted fewer take-ons (3) than him. 

 

But Saturday’s performance at Fulham reminded us of that side of his game, as the Frenchman tore up and down the left flank, stretching the opposition, getting in behind and delivering a series of dangerous crosses, one of which Issa Diop bundled into his own net.  

 

Simply put, if Digne can meld this level of attacking influence with his newly rounded defensive game, he’ll start to look like a very, very complete full-back.

 

 

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His stranglehold on the left-back position is now unquestioned: He’s started every Premier League and European game so far this season, keeping Ian Maatsen, the man who started last year’s Champions League final at left-back, on the bench, while Moreno has left the club on loan. Digne has also regained his spot in the France setup after a lengthy absence, starting two matches this term for Les Bleus. 

 

Maatsen may have been given the nod for the Champions League win over Bologna but Digne is expected to return to the XI for Saturday's welcome of Bournemouth.

 

Go back in time 18 months and tell Villa fans this and many would have called you crazy, as it looked for all the world as if Digne’s time at the club was drawing to a close. Pure determination - and personal development - has changed the course of his, and Moreno’s, careers drastically.

Aston Villa vs Bournemouth: Stats reinforce Emery's decision to persist with Lucas Digne